Water-wheel.



J. D. RIPSON.

y WATER WHEEL. APPLIUATION FILED JULY 11, 1912.

1,067,064. Patented Ju1y8,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

:al Y .l

I, :rff H'III I Hill" l Il Il' Il l mil) &/ I

@Hoff/neg l EOLUMHIA PLANaqRAPH cD.,w^sHlNGTuN. b. c.

J. D. RIPSON.

WATER WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, i912.

Patented July 8, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@Wing/wao ame/nw `coLuNmxA PLANouRAvH co.,wAsHlNGTUN, D. c.

JOI-IN D. RIPSON, 0F WEST TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

WATER-WHEEL.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed. Julyll, 1912.

Patented July 8, 1913.

Serial No. 708,829.

To all whom 75 may concern Be it known that I, JOHN D. RirsoN, a citizenof the United States, residing at Test Toronto, in the county of York,Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTvVater-VVheels, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a water wheel or currentpower machine that can be supported from the bank of a stream, theblades of which are immersed in water, the wheel being driven by t-heordinary current of the water in the river or creek in which the bladesare immersed.

Another objectI of my invention is to construct the wheel so that it issupported from a bearing on but one side thereof.

Another object of my invention is to make the blades on the wheeladjustable so that they can be raised or lowered according to the stageof the water in the river or creek, without shifting the axis of thewheel or without materially changing the diameter of the wheel.

Another object of my invention is to provide gearing by which the powerof the wheel is transmitted directly to the machinery on shore that isto be driven thereby.

Another object of my invention is to mount the wheel so that it may bereadily taken fromA the water so as to stop the driving thereof.

These and other objects of my invention will be fully illustrated in thedrawings, de-

scribed in t-he specification and pointed out in the claims at the endthereof.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of mywheel as it will appear mounted upon the bank of a stream. Fig. 2 is atop plan view of my wheel with all but two of the blades or flangesomitted therefrom. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the housing or box inwhich the transmission gear is contained. Eig. l is a front view of oneof the blades or flanges of the wheel. Eig. 5 is a section on the line.5X-5X in Fig. el. Fig. 6 is a section on the line (3X-GX in Fig. 1.Fig. 7 is a perspective view partly broken away of a modified form of myinvention.

In the accompanying drawings like reference numerals refer to likeparts.

In the drawings reference numeral 1 indicates the bank of a stream and 2indicates the water in the stream.

8 is the concrete or masonry base which is first laid for the mountingof the wheel. On top of this is placed the base plate l of the machinewhich is fastened to the concrete base by the bolts 5, 6, 7 and 8. Ontop of the base plate 4 is the shell 9 which together with the baseplate f1 constitutes a housing for the beveled gear 10. The shell 9 isfastened to the base l by studs which pass up through the base frombelow, the two parts being connected together before the base isfastened in place by the bolts 5, 6, 7 and 8.

The beveled gear 10 is mounted upon a shaft 11 to which it is keyed andwhich rotates therewith. The base plate l is finished with a boss 12which forms a bearing for the beveled gear 10 which takes up thevertical thrust thereof, and the shell 9 is provided with a journal box13 at the top thereof in which the top of the shaft 11 is free torotate. On top of the shell 9 are provided the lugs 14, 15, 16 and 17 inwhich is pivotally mounted a plate 18, the lugs being shown in F ig. 8and the plate being shown in section in F ig. 1. On this plate is asegmental gear 19, which gear extends down through the opening 20provided in the shell 9 therefor.

Mounted in the shell 9 is the shaft or stem 21 which extends through theside of the shell and has upon the outer end thereof the operating lever22 and upon the inner end the pinion or gear 28. This pinion meshes witha segmental gear 19 and by this pinion the segmental gear 19 isoperated, so that the plate 18 can be tilted from the angular positionshown in Fig. 1 to a horizontal position corresponding wit-h the top ofthe shell 9. The outline of this plate 18 is shown in dotted lines inFig. 2.

Mounted in the plate 18 and stationary therewith is the shaft 241, whichshaft has a flange 25 at the bottom thereof by which it is fastened tothe plate 18 by means of the screws 26 and 27. Mounted to rotate uponthis shaft is the crown gear 28, which gear has the teeth 29 thereonwhich mesh with similar teeth upon the beveled gear 10 by which themotion of the wheel is transmitted to the beveled gear 10. The plate 18and a collar 33'whi'ch is fastened to the shaft by means of a pin 34.tAbove the collar 33 on the shaft-24, and mounted'to rotate around 15':the shaft24, is the'wheel 35. This wheel has xa Circular groove 36therein and the collar '33 has a similar groovethereon, which f groovesconstitute between them a ball race in which a string of balls is placedthat constitutes a thrust ball bearing between the 'wheel35 and thecollar 33.

Above the 'wheel 35 is provided a collar 37 which is keyed to the shaft24 and holds i thewwheel 35'in place. Cut in the back of the gear 28 arethe radial slots 38, 38, twenty-two of which are shown in Fig. 2,

Valthough it is obvious that these may be of Yany desired number. Theseradial slots are spaced evenly apart with the same angular distancebetween them. One of these slots is shownin Fig. 6. On each side of theradial slots are bolted thefianges or braces 39' and 40. Pivotallymounted between these vflanges or bracesand the pinsV 41 are the arms42. On the end of these arms are provided the` blades 43, one of whichis shown complete inA F ig. 4. The arm 42 is divided, one part of whichextends along and is riveted to the upper edge of the blade 43, and :theother part ofwhich extends vdown and is riveted along the end and thebottom of the blade, strengthening the blade and making it more rigid.These blades at the outer end are bent up at an angle and at the bottomare bent up with a flange 44, so that the whole when finished' forms abucket or cup against whichY the water positively engages `in order tovforce the rotation of the wheel to which it is attached. ATwo of theseblades are shown in top planview in Fig. 2. On the back of each blade ismounted a brace V4E which extends rearwardly and makes contact with thesucceeding blade, by which the blades tend to hold each other equally inposition. The braces 45. are only fastened to one blade and maintainonly sliding contact wit-h the blade at the rear. This permits thisblade to rise and. fall separately from the rest, asobstructions in thestream may necessitate, such as iioating ice or wood, etc.

Fastened to the wheel 35 are the pulleys 46 over which extend the cables47, each of which Cables is fastened at the outer end to a lug 48 on theblade 43. The cable passes over the pulley 46 and is connected to a randthe blades should be drawn up to a uni- Aform position. The bladesshould be imwindlass 47A-uponwhich it is wound up.

,This windlassl'has thereona, pinion or gear '70 51. Also mounted torotate between the flanges 50 and 51 is the crankshaft 52 having `thepinion 53 thereon, which pinion meshes with the pinion 48, so that thepinion 48 and windlass 47 can be turned by turning the crank 54. A pawl55 and ratchet 56 are furnished on each of these crank shafts to preventbackward rotation thereof. By turning the crank 54 the cable 47 may bedrawnfdown andthe blade 43 connected thereto may be drawn up toanyposition desired. Each of the blades may be drawn up in they same way byt-he operation of its particular crank, windlass and cable,

mersed so that the water comes just to the top of the blade. xAs thewater in the stream rises the blades can' be. elevatedA to any desiredheight.

The fianges39 and4'0 afford a strong and sufiicient bearing to take upthe leverage of the arm42 and causel the wheel to rotate uniformlytherewith, and the cables 47 are amply strong enough to support theblades 43 in any'position in which they may be placed whileV the wheelis rotating, due to the flow of the current.

Mounted upon` the concrete base 4 is the upright 57. Journaled in thisupright and in lthe back of the housing 9 is 4the shaft 58. The back ofthe housing is reinforced by the angle 59 which furnishes additionalbearing surface for the shaft 58. Keyed to the shaft 58 are the beveled'gear 60 and the pulley 61. The beveled gear 60 meshes with the beveledgear 10 and isldriven thereby. A belt may be driven by the pulley 61 andapplied to any machine orgearing on which the power is intended to beused.

Instead'of the pulleys'46 and cables 47, tie rods connecting between theblades 43 and the wheel 35 may be used, which tie rods may include turnbuckles by which the blades 43 may be raised and'lowered as 115 desired.

The operation of my machine is as follows: After the parts are placed inposition as above described, the plate 18 and beveled gear 28 may betilted to the posi- 120 tion shown in Fig. 1 by the operation of thelever 22 and pinion 23. The blades may be placed at the desired `heightwith reference to the level of the water in the stream by raising orlowering on the cables 47. The 125 iow of the water. in the stream willcarry the blades 43 therewith and cause the beveled gear 28 to rotate.This in turn will communicate its power tothe beveled gear 10, which inturn will communicate its power to 130 the beveled gear 60, driving theshaft 58 on the pulley 6l.

If it is desired the blades 4 3 can be drawn part way out of the water,which will vary the speed of and the power developed by the wheel.

It will be seen by the foregoing description that the blades of thewater wheel are immersed only on one side and that the blades on theother side are elevated above the bank of the stream and that the waterwheel is supported entirely from one bank of the stream and that noobstruction need be placed in the bed of the stream that will interferewith the flow of the water.

It will also be seen from the sectional view in Fig. l thatthe machineis mounted so that the base and housing partially overhang the water, sothat the blades will have water of sufficient depth at which to operate.The angular position of the wheel causes the blades as they leave thewater to pass up over the land and enter the water from the upside ofthe stream.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified form of my invention, the purpose ofwhich is to provide for the use of my improved water wheel on the banksof streams where the banks are high and steep and where there is greatfluctuation in the stage of the water. In this modification I provide asill on each end of which are mounted inclines 7l having runners orguides 72 and 7 3 therein. In this instance the shell or frame of themachine is not anchored to the base but is mounted to run up and downupon these guideways. For this purpose I provide the shell with lugs orguides 74, 75, 76 and 77 on each side thereof, which guides engage withthe guides on the stationary frame and hold the shell ,in any positionin which it may be placed with relation to the frame. On top of theshell I provide the lugs 7 8 and 79 to which are attached cables 80 and81 which pass up over the pulleys 83 Iand 83 and down over the drum ofthe windlass S4. By turning the windlass the shell may be raised up ordown and suspended in any desired elevation. The water wheel will bemounted upon the inclined face of the drum with its blades extendingdown into the water at the lower edge, as is illustrated in the otherfigures of the drawings. Then this modification is used the water wheelas a whole will be raised and it will not be necessary to rock the wheelby the use of the lever 22 and the parts associated there with.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and patentableis as follows.

l. The combination in a water wheel of a wheel having blades thereondistributed around the periphery thereof, said wheel being mounted at anincline to the water,

a shaft for supporting said wheel, around which shaft said wheelrotates, said shaft being inclined from the vertical, means for tiltingsaid shaft to a vertical position and carrying the wheel therewith, abeveled gear mounted on an upright axis a beveled gear upon said shaft,said gears being in mesh with each other when said wheel is in itsinclined position, said gears being arranged to permit adjustment of thetilt-ing gear without disturbing the gear on the upright aXis.

2. The combination in a water wheel of a base plate, a housing therefor,a vertical shaft mounted between said base plate and said housing, abeveled gear keyed to and mounted to rotate with said shaft, saidhousing being inclined on one side, a plate pivotally mounted onsaid'housing and adapted to be tilted between the horizontal top of saidhousing and the inclined side thereof, a shaft mounted on said plate abeveled gear provided with blades adapted to rotate around said shaft,said gears being adapted to mesh with each other when the plate is in aninclined position.

3. The combination in a water wheel of a base plate, a housing therefor,a vertical shaft mounted between said base plate and said housing, abeveled gear keyed to and mounted to rotate with said shaft, saidhousing being inclined on one side, a plate pivotally mounted on saidhousing and adapted to be tilted between the horizontal top of saidhousing and the inclined side thereof, a shaft mounted on said plate, abeveled gear adapted to rotate around said shaft, a ball bearingprovided between said beveled gear and said plate.

t. The combination in a water wheel of a base plate, a housing therefor,a vertical shaft mounted between said base plate and said housing, abeveled gear keyed to and mounted to rotate with said shaft, saidhousing being inclined on one side, a'plate pivotally mounted on saidhousing and adapted to be tilted between the horizontal top of saidhousing and the inclined side thereof, a shaft mounted on said plate, abeveled gear adapted to rotate around said shaft, a ball bearingprovided between said beveled gear and said plate, said beveled gearbeing grooved on the back thereof, flanges on either side of saidgroove, blades pivotally mounted between said flanges.

5. The combination in a water wheel of a base plate, a housingltherefor', a vertical shaft mounted between said base plate and saidhousing, a beveled gear keyed to and mounted to rotate with said shaft,said housing being inclined on one side, a plate pivotally mounted onsaid housing and adapted to be tilted between the horizontal top of saidhousing and the inclined side thereof, a shaft mounted on said plate, abeveled gear adapted to rotate around said shaft., a ball vfio saI

#therefrom to engage the preceding blade.

onV said` wheel' for raising or lowering said blades.

6. 'The combination in a water wheel of a Lbasevplate, a housingtherefor, a vertical shaft mounted between said base plate and saidhousing, a beveled gear keyed to and mounted to rotate with said shaft,said housing being inclined on one side, a plate ;pivotally mounted onsaid housing and vadapted to be tilted between the horizontal top ofsaid housing and the inclined side thereof, a shaft mounted on saidplate, a

"beveled gear adapted to rotate around said shaft, a ball bearingprovided between said beveled gear and said plate, said beveled gear-being grooved on the back thereof, "flanges on either side of saidgroove, blades pivotally 4mounted between said flanges, a

win'tllass for each of said blades mounted on said beveled gear, pulleyssupported above `*said beveled gear, cable passing between said Lbladesand over said pulleys to said windlass` 'by which said blades niay beraised or lowered.

"7. Ina-water wheel the combination of a Vdisk mounted to rotate on ashaft pitched at an angle to the horizontal, radial arms pivw Avoted Vonsaid disk, blades fastened to said arms,- eacli of'said blades having abrace mounted thereon and extending forwardly SIn a water wheel, thecombination of a hollow base, a shaft mounted to roel: on

said base, a water wheel having blades thereon mounted -to rotate onsaid shaft, said shaft being capable of standing vertical with 1thewheel substantially horizontal and capable of being iiiolined with oneside of the .f wheel depressed and the other side elevated,

al gear on the wheel adapted to rook and r0- tate therewith, a gear inthe base adapted to rotate therein in a fixed position, said gear -onthe wheel meshing with and driving the gear in the base when t-lie wheelis in an inclined position. 1 9. The combination of a water wheel, anaxis therefor supported on one side, said axis being capable of tiltingwith its support from `an upright to an inclined position, blades onsaid water wheel being adapted to be raised or lowered with reference tosaid support, said blades engaging with the water on one-side of saidwheel when the shaft is inclined and driving said wheel, a gear fastenedto said wheel and adapted to rotate therewith, a gear mounted below saidaxis and independent thereof with which said rst named gear is adaptedto mesh when the wheel is in its inclined position, said -wheel beingadapted to transmit its power through said gears the same being arrangedto pei-init adjustment of the tilting gear without disturbing the gearon the upright Vtate over it,a'gear on--saidf-water wheel, said waterwheel being adapted to tilt to engage its blades on o-nefside'withlthe-waterand bring said gears into meshvv with each other, means toraise and lower the blades of said wheel with reference Ito said gear.

12. In a water wheel, the-combination of a base having twosurfaeesthereon which are inclined atan anglewtoy eachother, a shaft pivotallymountedlon said base at the junction o-f Ysaid surfaces, a water wheeladapted to rotate1around said shaft, said Vwheel having bladesdistributed -around the periphery thereof, said wheel and.- said fshaftbeing oapableof tilting to bring the wheel into contact-with either ofsaid surfaces.

13. The combinationwin afwater wheel of aV hollow base,f afgear mountedto rotate therein lon anaxis, a vwheel havingblades thereonsupportedabove said gear vwith a fixed support inter-posed between-saidgear and sai-d" wheel, said wheel being adapted to rotateoveivtlie"gear,` a gear ontlie waterl wheel moving'thei'ewith, saidAwater wheel being adapted toI tilt to engage its blades on one side lofl"the water and bring said gears into mesh with each other.

14. In a water wheel the Vcombination of a wheel havingV a beveled gearthereon, a shaft therefor, saidwheel revolving around the bottomofthe-shaft, a support for said shaft on which said shaft is adapted torock toward and from 'the vertical, a beveledgear adapted to rotateunder said support, said wheel andv lits 'shaft being capable of tiltingto bring the vtwo beveled -gears `into mesh with each other.

15. In a waterwheel, the combination of ak ing said plate, a shaftImounted on said plate and rocking therewith, a wheel adapted to revolvearound said shaft and rock with the 'Shaft and plate.

16. Ina water'wheel, thecombination of a'support, a plateadapted toyrock on said' Cfr support, a quadrant Connected to said plate, a pinionmounted upon the support meshing with said quadrant for the purpose ofrocking said plate, a shaft mounted on said plate and rocking therewith,a wheel adapted to revolve around said shaft and rock with the shaft andplate, a beveled gear on said wheel above the support, a beveled gearmounted on a shaft below the support, said pinion and quadrant beingoperable to move the 10 upper gear into and out of mesh with the lowergear.

In testimony whereof I aliiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JCI-IN D. RIPSON. Witnesses:

ANTHONY MATHONY, LENA M. Asi-r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of atents, Washington, D. C,

